Attachment for picked stringed instruments.



L. A. WILLIAMS. ATTACHMENT FOB PIGKED STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

' APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10. 1907.

Patented Mar. 30, 1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS A. WILLIAMS, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

ATTACIEMENT FOR PICKEID STRINGEID INSTRUMENTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,'LEw1s ALFRED VVIL- nmMs, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Picked Stringed Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to attachments for picked stringed instruments.

In playing musical instruments of the picked stringed type, some players use the front of the body as a guide and support for their hand when manipulating the. strings, the hand contacting with the body as it moves back and forth over the same. As a result, when such players use an instrument in which the front of the body is swelled, their stroke is uneven, owing to the dip of the hand in following the surface of the body.

It is the main object of this invention to provide an improved hand guide and finger rest plate for stringed instruments, which may be applied to picked stringed musical instruments, and which does not in any manner interfere with the musical qualities of the instrument, and also one which properly guides and supports the hand of the player.

A further object is to avoid the necessity of inlaying or securing a guard plate or finger rest or shield to the top of a picked stringed musical instrument.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which,

Figure l is a plan view of an instrument I v n l I l embodying my invention, a portion of the finger-board being broken away; Fig. 2 is an edge or side elevation thereof, looking from the right of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section taken on a line corresponding to the broken line 33 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 10, 1907.

Patented March 30, 1909.

Serial No. 378,250.

an enlarged detail section taken on a line corresponding to line k4 of Fig. 1.

In. the drawing, similar numerals of ref erence refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, the body 1 of the instrument shown is curved or irregular in cross section, as clearly appears from the drawing.

The finger-board 2 is of the usual or any desired style, and the strings 6 are attached to the usual tail-piece 3 and arranged over the bridge 5.

I. arrange a platelike hand guide 7, usually on the right-hand side of the top, the outer edge of the hand guide and finger rest plate being preferably conformed to the form of the instrument, and its inner edge preferably lying in a plane substantially parallel with the edge of the finger-board.

Secured to the outer edge of the hand guide and finger rest plate are blocks 7, the blocks being arranged to rest on the body front at the edge thereof above the edge wall.

To secure the hand guide and finger rest plate rigidly in place, I preferably provide turn-buckle clamps made up of members 8 and 9 with the turn-buckle 10, the members 8 of the clamps being threaded into the blocks 7, and the members 9 being adaptappears in Fig. 3. Suitable facings, as 11, are provided for the blocks 7', and the jaws of the clamps, so that the body of the instrui'nent is not marred thereby. The hand guide and finger rest plate is further supported by means of the pin 12, at its inner edge, which engages a suitable hole provided therefor in the edge of the finger-board. The hand and finger rest plate is thus supported in a plane substantially parallel to the strings of the instrument, so that the players hand is properly guided and supported in its movement and does not touch the top of the instrument. This guide and finger rest plate also protects the body of the instrument from being worn or scratched in use. It is frequently the practice to inlay pieces of celluloid or other material at this point to receive the wear. The inlaying of materials such as celluloid is objectionable as it' has a tendency to draw and check the sounding board and also interferes with the quality of tone by retarding vibration;

My improved attachment may be readily attached or detached, as desired, and it does not in any Way injure the instrument as does the inlaid guard and finger rest plate.

It is evident that my attachment is very simple and economical in structure. My hand guide and finger rest plate does not in any Way change the tone of the instrument or interfere With its quality, as does the inlaid guard or finger rest plate.

In order that the objects and advantages of my invention and ii'nproveinents may be fully understood, I desire to state that most mandolin players gage the dip of the pick by bringing the fourth or little finger slightly in contact with the surface of the sounding board or top of the instrument. If the sounding board be arched, the tendency is to constantly change the dip of the pick, which makes certain results, such as a smooth tremolo, diflicult of attaining. Fur ther, from a structural standpoint, when the guard plates are inlaid, as is now the common practice, and this is especially true When inlaid in a swelled top or sounding board, the celluloid or tortoise shell usually used for the purpose has a tendency to roll or draw on the sounding board. This drawing effect is sometimes so strong that the sounding board is checked at the edge of the guard plate and this sometimes occurs even before the instruments are shipped, and of course requires repairing or the replacing of the sounding board. In some instances the sounding board does not check for several months, and of course if the sounding board be extraordinarily strong and tough, it permanently resists the pulling or rolling tendency of the guard plate. I desire further to call attention to the fact that Where the instruments are used by concert or like perforn'iers the tops of the instruments, or in case guard plates are used, are worn out, or the wood around the guard plates is Worn out, so that it is necessary to repair the same, and the sounding board is frequently too thin to permit the replacing of the guard plate, so that the sounding board must be renewed. This is expensive, and has the objectionable feature of changing the quality of tone of the instrument, as it is quite impossible to replace a sounding board without affecting its tone.

I have illustrated and described my improved hand guide and finger rest plate in detail in the form preferred by me on account of its structural simplicity and economy and the convenience With Which it may be attached to or detached from the in strument. Y I am aware, however, that it is capable of considerable variation in structural details Without departing from my invention, and I desire to be understood as claiming the same specifically, as illustrated, as well as broadly.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.- In a stringed instrument, the combination with the body having a swelled top, of a finger board having a hole in the edge thereof; a hand guide and finger rest plate; supporting blocks for said plate arranged over the edge Wall of the body; clamps connected to said blocks and arranged to engage the body under the edge wall thereof; facings for said blocks and clamps; and a pin on the inner edge of said plate arranged in said hole in said finger board, whereby said plate is supported in a plane substantially parallel with the strings of the instrument, for the purpose specified.

2. in a stringed instrument, the combination with the body having a swelled top, of a finger board having a hole in the edge thereof; a hand guide and finger rest plate; supporting blocks for said plate arranged over the edge wall of the body; clamps connected to said blocks and adapted to engage the body under the edge wall thereof; and a pin on the inner side of said board arranged in said hole in said finger board, whereby said plate is supported in a plane substantially parallel with the strings of the instrument, for the purpose specified.

In a stringed instrument, the combination with the body having a swelled top, of a finger board; a hand guide and finger rest plate; supporting blocks for said hand guide and finger rest plate arranged over the edge wall of the body; clamps connected to said blocks arranged to engage the body under the edge wall thereof; facings for said blocks and clamps; and means for securing the inner edge of said plate to said. finger-board, whereby said plate is supported in a plane substantially parallel With the strings of the instrument, for the purpose specified.

4. In a stringed instrument, the combination with the body, of a finger board, a hand guide and finger rest plate; supporting bloc {S for said. plate arranged over the edge rail of the body; clamps connected to said blocks arranged to engage the body under the edge wall thereof; and means for securing the inner edge of said plate to said fingerboard, whereby said plate is supported in a plane substantially parallel With the strings of the instrument, for the purpose specified.

In a stringed instrun'ient, thecombination with the body, of a finger board having a hole in the edge thereof; a hand guide and finger rest plate; a clamp for securing said plate to said body engaging said body at the edge thereof; and a pin on the inner edge of of the finger-board,

said board inserted in said hole in the edge said plate being supported thereby in a plane substantially parallel with the strings of the instrument, for the purpose specified.

(5. In a stringed instrument, the combination with the body, of a finger board; a hand guide and finger rest plate; a clamp for securing said plate to said body engaging said body at the edge thereof; and means for securing the inner edge of said plate to said finger board, said plate being in a plane substantially parallel With the strings of the instrument, for the purpose specified.

7. In a stringed instrument, the combina tion with the body, of a finger board; a hand guide and finger rest plate; and means for securing one edge of said plate to said finger board and the other edge to the outer edge of the body, said plate being supported thereby in a plane substantially parallel with the strings of the instrument, for the purpose specified.

8. In a stringed instrument, the combination with the body, of strings, a hand guide and finger rest plate; means for securing the outer edge of said plate to the outer edge of said body; and a support for the inner edge of said plate whereby said plate is supported at the side of said strings so that its upper face lies in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the strings, for the purpose specified.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two Witnesses.

LEWIS A. WILLIAMS. Witnesses OTIS A. EARL, LULU Gr. GREENFIELD. 

